Discover the latest convenience store foodservice trends in the US and how they are impacting the convenience store foodservice market. Our US Convenience Store Foodservice Market Report 2023 is packed with valuable insights on consumer attitudes, convenience store foodservice market size, convenience store foodservice market forecast and segmentation, and consumer behavior. With this report, you’ll have the knowledge to stay ahead of the competition and keep your business growing.
Convenience Store Foodservice: Current Market Landscape
Consumer markets have faced an unprecedented level of turmoil in recent years, from the massive economic disruption in 2020 from COVID-19 to 40-year highs in inflation in 2022. Real GDP (the inflation-adjusted measure of GDP) increased at an annualized rate of 2.9% in Q3 2022 – the first in which the US experienced positive growth in 2022, following two quarters of decline. However, consumer sentiment remains near historic lows, with rising interest rates, stubborn inflation, as well as volatile financial markets continuing to erode households’ confidence. With wage growth stalling, consumers exhausting their savings, soaring credit card debt, and stubbornly high inflation – all signs point to reduced spending heading into next year.
Convenience Stores Foodservice Market Trends and Consumer Behavior
- Convenience store foodservice trends: C-stores have navigated troubling times through the pandemic and continue to be challenged by the constant brunt of inflationary highs. With consumer routines changed and daily commutes disrupted by more consumers working from home or returning to public transportation, C-store sales gains are beginning to level out.
- US C-store market growth: By 2027, Mintel predicts c-store foodservice sales to reach $54.7 billion. C-stores will need to continue developing strong customer relationships to build brand loyalty and maintain their growth trajectory. Providing consumers with a simple yet robust loyalty membership program that offers discounts and incentives at the pump and in-store will help further encourage c-store sales.
- US convenience store market factors: While consumers starting to are finding relief at the pump, food prices remain elevated – rising by nearly 11% for the 12 months ending November 2022. Offering consumers value and quality food/drink items and competitive gas prices will be crucial to driving c-store sales and momentum in 2023.
Convenience Store Foodservice Market Trends and Opportunities
- Convenience Store Foodservice Market Challenges: Consumers are seeking a wide variety of food and drink from c-store operators to fit their away-from-home dining occasions, leaning on c-stores as a one-stop shop for snacks, meals, and errands.
- Convenience Store Foodservice Market Innovation: Weigel’s, a Tennessee-based c-store chain, introduced a four-day work week and flexible work hours at 88 of its locations in August 2022. The brand decided to implement the new flexible schedule after experiencing successful results through its pilot project at a test store earlier in the year. The new strategy allows employees more autonomy in how and when they decide to work, providing them with better work-life balance.
Read on to discover more about the convenience store foodservice consumer market, read our Foodservice in Retail – US – 2022 report, or take a look at our other Foodservice Market research reports.
Quickly Understand the Convenience Stores Foodservice Market
- How c-store operators can encourage foodservice purchases.
- How marketers can use loyalty reward programs and promotional offers to further build relationships with consumers.
- The importance of variety, quality and value of food and drink options.
- How operators can deliver on convenience across the board.
Covered in this Report
Leading Brands in the Convenience Stores Food Industry: Circle-K, Wawa, 7-Eleven, Weigels, Speedway, Stripes.
Expert Analysis from a Specialist in the Field
This report, written by Pooja Lal, a leading analyst in the Foodservice sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis on convenience store food to highlight current trends and add expert context to the numbers.
C-store operators have an opportunity to build strong, long-lasting relationships with customers through loyalty memberships that encourage repeat visitation and boost the purchase of in-store food and drink items. Consumers will continue to seek out a wide variety of high-quality menu and packaged food and drink items that can fulfill on-the-go needs.
Pooja Lal
Foodservice and Mintel Menu Insights
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Overview
- What you need to know
- This Report looks at the following areas
- Definition
- Market context
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Executive Summary
- Top takeaways
- Market overview
- Figure 1: Total US convenience store foodservice sales and forecast, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 2: Category outlook, 2022-27
- Opportunities and challenges
- Draw in consumers with exclusive deals on fuel and food/drink
- Figure 3: Motivation for future visits, 2022
- The loyalty membership program should be robust and straightforward
- Figure 4: Reasons for joining a loyalty program, 2022
- Perceptions of quality can improve through healthy and indulgent offerings
- Figure 5: Attitudes about convenience stores, 2022
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Market Size and Forecast
- Consumer interest in c-store foodservice to grow slow and steady
- Figure 6: Total US convenience store foodservice sales and forecast, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 7: Total US convenience store foodservice sales and forecast, at current prices, 2017-27
- Consumer interest in c-store foodservice to grow slow and steady
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Segment Performance
- Prepared food and hot dispensed beverages grow
- Figure 8: Total US convenience store foodservice sales and forecast, by segment, at current prices, 2017-27
- Prepared food and hot dispensed beverages grow
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Market Factors
- Consumer confidence picks up pace signaling a degree of optimism
- Figure 9: Consumer Price Index
- Reshape c-store locations to account for EV consumers
- Consumer confidence picks up pace signaling a degree of optimism
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Competitive Strategies and Market Opportunities
- Lean on technology to boost convenience and customer experience
- Figure 10: Circle K Smart Checkout
- Build loyalty membership programs that keep consumers engaged
- Figure 11: C-store Rewards Program Deals
- Think quality, healthy, grab-and-go items for the menu
- Figure 12: C-store on-the-go food and drink
- Grow with the EV movement
- Figure 13: EV charging ramps up in C-store space
- Embrace flexible work weeks to attract and retain c-store employees
- Lean on technology to boost convenience and customer experience
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The Convenience Store Consumer – Fast Facts
- Product assortment and what’s on the menu matters
- Win consumers over through loyalty memberships
- Find the balance between the types of food/drinks offered
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Types of Convenience Stores Visited
- C-store visitation continues to climb
- Figure 14: Types of convenience stores visited, 2022
- C-store shopping interests decline with age
- Figure 15: Types of convenience stores visited, by age, 2022
- Parents on the go gravitate toward c-stores
- Figure 16: Types of convenience stores visited by parental status, 2022
- C-store visitation continues to climb
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Foods and Beverages Purchased
- Packaged foods and self-serve beverages remain the bread and butter of c-stores
- Figure 17: Foods and beverages purchased, 2022
- Nutritional transparency appeals to women
- Figure 18: Foods and beverages purchased, by gender, 2022
- Parents seek convenience through prepared foods
- Figure 19: Foods and beverages purchased, by parental status, 2022
- Packaged foods and self-serve beverages remain the bread and butter of c-stores
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Motivation for Future Visits
- Low prices are a top motivator for convenience store visitation
- Figure 20: Motivation for future visits, 2022
- Women push the pedal to the metal when it comes to better deals
- Figure 21: Motivation for future visits, by gender, 2022
- Find the balance between quality and widespread offerings
- Figure 22: Motivation for future visits, by age, 2022
- Low prices are a top motivator for convenience store visitation
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Loyalty Program Membership
- Loyalty rewards buy-in is split fifty-fifty
- Figure 23: Loyalty program membership, 2022
- Incentivize women with value via loyalty memberships
- Figure 24: Loyalty program membership, by gender, 2022
- Build loyalty with younger consumers to develop long-term relationships
- Figure 25: Loyalty program membership, by age, 2022
- Loyalty rewards buy-in is split fifty-fifty
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Reasons for Joining a Loyalty Program
- Allow versatility in the way rewards can be expended
- Figure 26: Reasons for joining a loyalty program, 2022
- Use reward incentives to encourage trial of c-store food and beverages
- Figure 27: Reasons for joining a loyalty program, by gender, 2022
- Allow versatility in the way rewards can be expended
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Attitudes about C-store Loyalty Programs
- Loyalty can drive visitation
- Figure 28: Attitudes about c-store loyalty programs, 2022
- Older consumers are driven by price and membership
- Figure 29: Attitudes about c-store loyalty programs, by age, 2022
- Non-parents will go out of their way for deals and familiarity
- Figure 30: Attitudes about c-store loyalty programs, by parental status, 2022
- Loyalty can drive visitation
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Attitudes about Convenience Stores
- Carve out space for health-forward food and drink items
- Figure 31: Attitudes about convenience stores, 2022
- Women are seeking healthful items on menu and shelves
- Figure 32: Attitudes about convenience stores, by gender, 2022
- Younger consumers are seeking convenience and accessible solutions to feed their appetites
- Figure 33: Attitudes about convenience stores, by age, 2022
- Convenience purchase behaviors shift from indulgent to healthy
- Figure 34: Attitudes about convenience stores, by parental status, 2022
- Carve out space for health-forward food and drink items
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Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
- Data sources
- Sales data
- Forecast
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
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Appendix – The Market
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- Figure 35: Total US convenience store foodservice sales and forecast, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
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